| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for deciding the life of a fixing device, capable of more accurately judging the life of the fixing device than in a conventional method. SOLUTION: The life of the fixing device is decided based on the accumulation volume of toner fixed by the fixing device. The accumulation volume of the toner fixed by the fixing device is obtained from the cumulative toner replenishment time of a cartridge for replenishing the toner to a developing device, the pixel accumulation value of a printed image, or the number of times of replacing the cartridge for replenishing the toner to the developing device. The cumulative toner replenishment time (t) of the cartridge is obtained at steps S3 and S4, the time (t) is compared with a 1st reference value (t0) at a step S5, and in the case the judgment (t>=t0) is established, a display for urging a user to replace the fixing unit is imparted at a step S6. Next, when the time (t) reaches a 2nd reference value (t0'), the operation of the device is forcibly stopped at a step S8. |
